Signature Brew restructures to resolve debts and move forward
London-based Signature Brew Group is restructuring to resolve debts, protect all jobs, and secure new investment to fuel future growth. The post Signature Brew restructures to resolve debts and move forward appeared first on The Drinks Business.
London-based Signature Brew Group is restructuring to resolve debts, protect all jobs, and secure new investment to fuel future growth.
The move, which has seen the independent Walthamstow business enter into insolvency procedures and a restructuring agreement in a bid to avoid closure comes at a time when the sector is fighting challenges from all corners.
The brewery, which launched in 2011 and is known for its collaboration brews with bands and musicians, has filed a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) as a means of repaying hostoric HMRC and landlord debts and to assist in avoiding liquidation.
Over the years, Signature Brew has seen three successful rounds of crowdfunding from hundreds of investors and has been on the expansion trail, seeking both national and international reach, while working with artists such as Travis, The Prodigy, Lola Young, Hot Chip, Hospital Records, IDLES and The Darkness.
The new restructure will mean SBG will house the brewery operations, production, trade sales, brand and IP and, according to sources, "this is where the growth is happening, and where new investment will fuel further expansion into production, partnerships and exports".
Signature Brew Limited (SBL) will continue to run the hospitality side, including our bars, venues and events. SBL is entering a CVA to resolve historic HMRC and landlord debts via a structured repayment plan over 5 years, which we are targeting to clear early.
All jobs across both sides of the business are protected. Suppliers have been fully looked after. This restructure is about protecting the business today while setting us up for long-term growth.
Sources close to the scene have stated that by taking this route, Signature Brew can essentially reduce the impact from brewing industry suppliers. Added to this, “the restructure protects every job” and “has full backing from shareholders and creditors” as well as will assist in bringing “fresh investment into the company” and allow the team to continue to trade and “do more of what they love”.
More details on the restructure will emerge over the coming weeks with Signature Brew co-founder Tom Bott offering complete transparency to anyone who might have further questions or concerns about the business’s future or their investments into the brewery.
Signature Brew, also known for its spoken word Spit Nights, supplies on-trade venues including Strongroom, Rough Trade, Bush Hall and The British Music Experience. Recent funds raised in its latest campaigns have assisted the business in its plans to expand across venues and festivals as well as via retail through supermarkets, convenience and bottle shops in an effort to gain greater traction for indie beer businesses interested in working with the culture, arts and music scene of local communities.
Speaking exclusively to db about the ordeal that the company has faced to stay afloat, Bott explained: "This restructure allows us to finally put the challenges of the past behind us and focus on building the future we know Signature Brew is capable of. We have built a business that is profitable, resilient and unique, blending great beer with incredible live music experiences. By addressing legacy debt in a controlled way, we are protecting jobs, strengthening relationships with our partners and creating a business that is set up to grow. Importantly, we have worked hard to mitigate the impact of this process on our suppliers and brewing industry partners, ensuring we come through this with our key relationships intact. Most importantly, this gives us the headroom to invest, innovate and continue doing what we love, at a bigger scale."
The total number of breweries in the UK has continued to drop, with 136 fewer brewers remaining in business compared to last spring. Those that have already hit hard times include the likes of Forest Road, Tatton Brewery, Elland Brewery, Red Cat, By The Horns, Wild Card and many more which have either closed their sites to reduce costs or simply been sold on to bigger players, sometimes even when the narrative is being controlled by the buyers and not the original founders.
The UK now has 100 fewer breweries than a year ago despite strong demand for independent beer, figures recently revealed.
According to data released by the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) UK Brewery Tracker, the UK has 100 fewer breweries in total as of January 2025 compared to January 2024 – with each quarter of 2024 showing a negative net closure rate, despite demand for independent beer from consumers, taps in pubs are simply dominated by big beer brands tying up the market.
When the data was released, SIBA chief executive Andy Slee commented on the situation and lamented that in truth "the issue for small independent breweries is lack of access to market and rising costs, making it incredibly difficult to remain profitable".
The move, which has seen the independent Walthamstow business enter into insolvency procedures and a restructuring agreement in a bid to avoid closure comes at a time when the sector is fighting challenges from all corners.
The brewery, which launched in 2011 and is known for its collaboration brews with bands and musicians, has filed a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) as a means of repaying hostoric HMRC and landlord debts and to assist in avoiding liquidation.
Over the years, Signature Brew has seen three successful rounds of crowdfunding from hundreds of investors and has been on the expansion trail, seeking both national and international reach, while working with artists such as Travis, The Prodigy, Lola Young, Hot Chip, Hospital Records, IDLES and The Darkness.
The new restructure will mean SBG will house the brewery operations, production, trade sales, brand and IP and, according to sources, "this is where the growth is happening, and where new investment will fuel further expansion into production, partnerships and exports".
Signature Brew Limited (SBL) will continue to run the hospitality side, including our bars, venues and events. SBL is entering a CVA to resolve historic HMRC and landlord debts via a structured repayment plan over 5 years, which we are targeting to clear early.
All jobs across both sides of the business are protected. Suppliers have been fully looked after. This restructure is about protecting the business today while setting us up for long-term growth.
Sources close to the scene have stated that by taking this route, Signature Brew can essentially reduce the impact from brewing industry suppliers. Added to this, “the restructure protects every job” and “has full backing from shareholders and creditors” as well as will assist in bringing “fresh investment into the company” and allow the team to continue to trade and “do more of what they love”.
More details on the restructure will emerge over the coming weeks with Signature Brew co-founder Tom Bott offering complete transparency to anyone who might have further questions or concerns about the business’s future or their investments into the brewery.
Signature Brew, also known for its spoken word Spit Nights, supplies on-trade venues including Strongroom, Rough Trade, Bush Hall and The British Music Experience. Recent funds raised in its latest campaigns have assisted the business in its plans to expand across venues and festivals as well as via retail through supermarkets, convenience and bottle shops in an effort to gain greater traction for indie beer businesses interested in working with the culture, arts and music scene of local communities.
Speaking exclusively to db about the ordeal that the company has faced to stay afloat, Bott explained: "This restructure allows us to finally put the challenges of the past behind us and focus on building the future we know Signature Brew is capable of. We have built a business that is profitable, resilient and unique, blending great beer with incredible live music experiences. By addressing legacy debt in a controlled way, we are protecting jobs, strengthening relationships with our partners and creating a business that is set up to grow. Importantly, we have worked hard to mitigate the impact of this process on our suppliers and brewing industry partners, ensuring we come through this with our key relationships intact. Most importantly, this gives us the headroom to invest, innovate and continue doing what we love, at a bigger scale."
The total number of breweries in the UK has continued to drop, with 136 fewer brewers remaining in business compared to last spring. Those that have already hit hard times include the likes of Forest Road, Tatton Brewery, Elland Brewery, Red Cat, By The Horns, Wild Card and many more which have either closed their sites to reduce costs or simply been sold on to bigger players, sometimes even when the narrative is being controlled by the buyers and not the original founders.
The UK now has 100 fewer breweries than a year ago despite strong demand for independent beer, figures recently revealed.
According to data released by the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) UK Brewery Tracker, the UK has 100 fewer breweries in total as of January 2025 compared to January 2024 – with each quarter of 2024 showing a negative net closure rate, despite demand for independent beer from consumers, taps in pubs are simply dominated by big beer brands tying up the market.
When the data was released, SIBA chief executive Andy Slee commented on the situation and lamented that in truth "the issue for small independent breweries is lack of access to market and rising costs, making it incredibly difficult to remain profitable". 
